Safety signal ski cap



Nov. 8, 1966 w. w. WHITE SAFETY SIGNAL SKI CAP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledOct. 26, 1964 INVENTOR. William W. Wh/Te Nov. 8, 1966 w. w. WHITE3,283,349

SAFETY SIGNAL SKI CAP Filed Oct. 26, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet z INVEN'EOR.William W. Wh/Te United States Patent 3,283,349 SAFETY SIGNAL SKI CAPWilliam W. White, Kansas City, Mo. (1100 S. Ocean Blvd., Pompano Beach,Fla.) Filed Oct. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 406,343 11 Claims. (Cl. 9-346) Thisinvention relates to safety caps for water sports and, morespecifically, to a cap for identifying a fallen water skier and forprotecting the head of the skier.

In water skiing it is often customary for a fallen skier to immediatelysignal the operator-of the towboat so that he will instantly be awarethat the skier has fallen safely and is not injured. However, if theskier is injured, then no signal is given and the operator knows that itis imperative that he return immediately to aid the skier. If thisoccurs, it may be diflicult to identify the location of the skier since,manifestly, a fast-moving towboa-t cannot reverse its course withoutmaking a wide swing. Thus, in the time interval between falling of theskier and reversal of the boat, it is possible that the location of theunconscious skier may be lost. I

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide a capfor those engaged in water sports, particularly water skiing, which willrender the user readily identifiable in the water so that he may be seenfrom a considerable distance.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a cap which willalso protect the head of the user [from colliding with foreign objectsin the water, such as water skis or the like.

It is another object of the instant invention, and a particular featurethereof, to provide a cap as aforesaid which is constructed so as toyield upon impact with the water in a manner to prevent dislodging ofthe cap from the head.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a watersafety cap wherein the means for holding the crown of the cap on thehead cooperates with the yieldable feature set forth above to assurethat the cap will remain in place during a hard fall.

-An additional and important object of the invention is to provide awater safety cap which will remain on the head of the wearer duringimpact without the use of a chin strap.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a water safety caphaving suflicient buoyancy to remain afloat if tossed to a skier in thewateror inadvertently dropped.

Other objects will become apparent as the detailed description proceeds.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the cap on thehead of the user;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cap shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical, sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical, sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing one form of a secondembodiment of the cap in place on the head of the user;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the cap shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view showing a second form of theembodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is a vertical, sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7; andV FIG. 9 is a plan view of the cap shown in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 14, the numeral 10 designates a generallyhemispherical crown which is held on the head of a user by a chin strap12 and a headband 14, the latter Patented Nov. 8, 1966 being in the formof a strap adapted to embrace the rear, lowermost portion of the head asshown in FIG. 1.

Crown 10 is provided with a central, top portion 16 and eight flexible,generally triangular sections 18. Each of the sec-tions 18 is joined toportion 16 at one apex thereof, the entire crown 10 being formed ormolded of a resilient substance such as rubber or plastic, preferably abuoyant material of this class containing a multitude of minute airchambers therewithin. A cylindrical projection 20 may be provided whichextends upwardly from portion 16 and defines a chamber 22 to render thecap buoyant or augment its buoyancy, if required. Buoyancy may also beprovided or augmented by a pair of hollow, triangular projections 24defining chambers 25, projections 24 extending forwardly and rearwardly,respectively, (from a pair of opposed sections 18.

The margins of sections 18 remote from top portion 16 define the edge 26of crown 10 which encircles the head of the user. Each section 18,except those sections provided with projections 24, have three waterimpact relief openings 28 therein for purposes to be fully explainedhereinafter. The chin strap 12 is secured to the undersurface of topportion 16 at approximately the juncture of portion 16 with the rearwardsections 18. Headband 14 is also joined to the underside of portion 16but adjacent the juncture of portion 16 with the forward sections 18;thus, strap 12 and band 14 cnoss one another as is clear in FIG. 3.

The material forming crown 10 should be brightly colored .so that thecap will be readily identifiable against a water background. In use, thecap is placed on the head of the user as illustrated in FIG. 1. If, forexample, the user should happen to fall while Water skiing, the cap willremain in place on the head of the skier and provide a means of readilyspotting the skier in the water.

Since crown 10 is constructed of eight separate, flexible sectionsjoined only at top portion 16, these sections will yield upon impactwith the water as illustrated for the right-hand section 18 shown incross section in FIG. 4. This could occur, for example, if this side ofthe head of the skier struck the water under considerable force, thethree relief openings 28 in the flexing section serving to relieve thewater pressure on the underside thereof.

It should be noted that strap 12 and band 14 are secured only to portion16; therefore, flexure of sections 18 upon impact relieves the strainthat would otherwise be imposed on strap 12.and band 14. The cumulativeeffect of this of the water against the underside thereof.

arrangement is to provide a cap which will not exert an excessive pullon strap 12 and band 14 upon impact with the water but which,nonetheless, will securely maintain the cap in position on the usershead in spite of the force During hard impacts, a number of the sections18 may flip to the upper position illustrated in FIG. 4; however, suchsections still remain adjacent the head of the user to afford a measureof protection against collision with objects in the water, such as waterskis or the tow bar.

The second embodiment of the instant invention includes two forms shownin FIGS. 5-9 wherein the numeral 30 designates the crown of this capconstruction. In the form of FIGS. 5 and 6, crown 30 is held on the headby-a chin strap 32 and a headband 34. Both strap 32 and band 34 contactthe head of the user in the same manner as discussed above.

Crown 30 is divided into sections which comprise seven elongated,arcuate, flexible members 36 which extend from the front of the crown tothe rear thereof and are laterally spaced from one another. Theuppermost, center member 36 defines the top portion or crest 38 of crown30, the normally lowermost pair of members 36 defining the edge 40 ofcrown 30. Members 36 converge and join at the front and rear of thecrown as is clear in FIGS. 6 and 9 3 and may be molded or formed of aresilient substance, preferably buoyant, such as rubber or plastic.

The three members 36 which define the crest 38 and the edge 40 of crown30 each comprise a closed tube which presents a buoyancy chamber 42therewithin. The other four members comprise arcuate ribs which aredisposed on edge with respect to the head of the wearer. In this manner,the ribs give maximum protection to the wearer in the event of acollision with objects in the water.

In the form shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, strap 32 and band 34 are joined tocrest 38 and, preferably, are not joined to the three members 36 whichare laterally spaced from crest 38. In analogous fashion as that shownand described for the first embodiment of this invention, strap 32 andband 34 are joined to the rearward and forward portions of crest 38respectively.

The cap of FIGS. 5 and 6 is utilized in the same manner as describedabove for the first embodiment. Members 36 should be brightly colored torender the cap easily identifiable against a Water background. Again,the force of the water upon impact will tend to cause yielding of thevarious members 36 except the center member, which is securely held inplace by strap 32 and band 34. As in the first embodiment, strap 32 andband 34 are relieved :of the impact pressure since they are connectedonly to the center member 36, and the construction of the crown is suchas to permit yielding of the other members without placing excessivestress on the strap or the band. Thus,

it is assured that the cap will remain on the head even during severewater impacts.

Since relatively large air spaces are present between adjacent members36, however, it is possible to construct this form of the cap with strap32 and band 34 joined to several or all of the members 36. Manifestly,this will minimize the yielding of the members upon impact and willplace greater strain on the strap and the :band and, for this reason,this alternate construction is not preferred. I

Referring to FIGS. 7-9, it may be seen that the cap construction thereshown diifers from FIGS. 5 and 6 .in that a headband 44 is employedwhich interconnects the two tubular members 36 defining the edge 40 ofcrown 30. Headband 44 in this form of the invention is not a flexiblestrap, but instead, is of tubular configuration and similar inconstruction to the three members 36 forming the edge and crest of thecrown. Thus, headband 44 is relatively rigid but, being composed of aresilient plastic or rubber substance, has sufiicient resiliency to flexwhen the crown is positioned on the head of the wearer to therebyprovide a means of gripping the head to hold the cap firmly in place.

It may be noted that headband 44 is configured such that the ears of thewearer are disposed between the headband and the edge 40 of the crown. Apair of elongated bars 46 interconnect the headband and the rear portionof the crown at edge 40 thereof as is clear in FIG. 7, which shows oneof the bars 46. The remaining bar is hidden from view in the figures.Each bar 46 forms a guard which extends across the associated ear of thewearer to protect the external auditory canal from sudden lwater forcewhen the side of the head strikes the Water. Bars 46 extend generallyhorizontally when the cap is on the head and the wearer is erect, eachbar being longitudinally arcuate particularly at the forward end thereofwhich merges with headband 44.

1 The effect and purpose of the particular configuration of each bar 46may be appreciated by viewing FIG. 8, wherein it may be seen that thetragus 48 of the ear is spaced from the bar, while the external ear 50is in closely spaced relationship to the bar or may even contact thebar. The purpose of the relatively wide spacing between the tragus 48and the bar 46 is to provide sufficient relief to prevent the bar frompushing against the tragus upon impact. If this were to happen, theexternal auditory canal would be closed and damage to the inner carcould occur. The arcuate configuration of the bar, however, preventsundue pressure against the tragus and allows the relatively toughcartilage of the external ear 50 to absorb any shock upon impact.Additionally, the outer surface of bar 46 is transversely convex so thatwater forced against the side of the head willdiverge at the ear andtend to be diverted away from the external auditory canal, therebyprotecting the eardrum from Water concussion.

Mani-festly, the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 7-9 has thedistinct advantage from the comfort and wearer appeal standpoint ofeliminating the need for a chin strap, as well as providing a means ofprotecting the said sections and permitting independent flexing ofrespective sections upon impact, the margins of said sections remotevfrom said portion defining the edge of said crown; and

means attached to said crown at said portion for hold- I ing the latteron the head of a wearer whereby to permit free movement of said edgeaway from the head to absorb the shock of said impact and thereby.

prevent dislodging of the cap from the head.

, 2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said crown comprises a buoyantstructure.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said holding means includes aheadband adapted for disposition in engagement with the rear, lowermostportion of the head.

4. A water safety cap comprising:

a crown having a central, top portion anda plurality, of generallytriangular, flexible sections each joined to said portion at one apexthereof for flexure away from the head of a wearer from a normal, headtcontacting position to a disposition out of substan tial head contactupon impact, the margins of said sections remote from said portiondefining the edge of said crown; and means attached to said crown atsaid portion for holding the latter on the head of the wearer whereby topermit free movement of said edge away from the head to absorb the shockof said impact and thereby prevent dislodging ofthe cap from the head.5. 'The invention .of claim 4, wherein said holding means comprises achin strap and a headband, the latter. being adaptedifor disposition inengagement with the rear, lowermost portion of the head.

6. The invention of claim 4, wherein said crown is provided withstructure defining a buoyancy chamber, at

least certain of saidsections having water impact, relief openingstherein.

7. A water safety cap comprising: a crown having a number of elongated,flexible, laterally spaced, head-protecting members extending from thefront of the crown to the rear thereof to present a crest and an edge,one of said members defining. said crest; and

a means attached to said one. member for holding the crown on the headof the wearer, whereby to permit free movement of said edge away fromthe head upon impact to absorb the shock of said impact and therebyprevent dislodging of the cap from the head- 8. The invention of claim7, wherein said holding means comprises, a chin strap and a headband,the latter being adapted for disposition in engagement with the rear,lowermost portion of the head.

9. A water safety cap comprising:

a crown having a number of elongated, flexible, laterally spaced,head-protecting members extendingfrom 5 6 the front of the crown to therear thereof, there beheadband and the rear portion of the crown andhaving ing an edge defined by two of said members; and a transverselyconvex outer surface. holding means comprising a headband connectingsaid two members and adapted to engage the rear, lower- References Citedy the Examine! most portion of the head with the ears of the wearer 5UNITED STATES PATENTS disposed between the headband and the edge of thecrown, said headband being relatively rigid but 222 3 23; havingsuificient resiliency to flex when the crown 3186O04 6/1965 Carlin; ispositioned on the head to thereby grip the latter. 3:197:784 8/1965Carlisle 10. The invention of claim 9, wherein is provided a 10 pair ofguards for protecting respective ears of the FOREIGN PATENTS wearer,said guards extending between said headband 59,976 11/1939 Denmark. andthe edge of the crown.

11. The invention of claim 10, wherein each of said MILTON BUCHLEREmmmerguards comprises an elongated bar interconnecting the ALFRED E,CORRIGAN, Examiner,

1. A WATER SAFETY CAP COMPRISING: A CROWN HAVING A PLURALITY OFFLEXIBLE, HEAD-PROTECTING SECTIONS, AND CENTRAL, TOP PORTIONINTERCOUPLING SAID SECTIONS AND PERMITTING INDEPENDENT FLEXING OFRESPECTIVE SECTIONS UPON IMPACT, THE MARGINS OF SAID SECTIONS REMOTEFROM SAID PORTION DEFINING THE EDGE OF SAID CROWN; AND MEANS ATTACHED TOSAID CROWN AT SAID PORTION FOR HOLDING THE LATTER ON THE HEAD OF AWEARER WHEREBY TO PERMIT FREE MOVEMENT OF SAID EDGE AWAY FROM THE HEADTO ABSORB THE SHOCK OF SAID IMAPCT AND THEREBY PREVENT DISLODGING OF THECAP FROM THE HEAD.